Who's Who in PIPMG?

Here are the profiles of the members who currently serve on the PIPMG Exec Committee.

Dr Ralph White

Ralph is a pharmacist and, after gaining a PhD, joined Wellcome. Exploitation of ideas for medicines led him into project management and experience with teams at all stages of the development process. Collaboration with the learning & development organisation led to the implementation of effective cross-functional working both in GlaxoWellcome and latterly in GSK. Now an independent consultant providing specialist teaching to the industry.

PIPMG Role: Ralph has been with the PIPMG executive for many years and for much of that time served as Secretary.

John began his career as a scientist in Immunology Diagnostics within the Wellcome Foundation (now GSK). He moved after some years to a new career in human resources as a trainer, team coach and eventually a learning and development Business Partner. He became a consultant in the 1990's, offering organization development, team building, skills training / coaching, instructional design and coordination. In 2001, he co-founded PPMLD Ltd with Ralph White, which specialises in enhancing collaborative working in life sciences – in particular, cross-functional project management and alliance / CRO outsourcing partnerships. John is also highly experienced in developing online, interactive support for learning and continues to innovate as this technology evolves.

PIPMG Role: General marketing and promotion of PIPMG and its events. Overseeing regular communications with members.

Janette Thomas (BSc, DiploD, PhD) is a director of PIPMG. Janette is Director of International Operations at Atlantic Healthcare plc since 2011. She is an experienced senior executive with 22 years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. She has led R&D and international pharmaceutical drug development projects including for GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK), CELS Ltd, Gardant, Jomaa Pharma GmbH, Immodulon Therapeutics Ltd, and Horizon Discovery Group plc (LSE:HZD). Her experience includes leading research projects, manufacturing outsourcing, large multinational consortia, and multinational pharmaceutical projects. Janette has a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors, a PhD from University of Leicester, UK, and post doctoral research at Cambridge University, UK.

PIPMG Role: Janette has been a Board member and part of the PIPMG executive committee for over 10 years and has been involved in all areas of PIPMG activity - in particular looking after PIPMG finances and long term strategy.

Pauline Stewart-Long (BSc, PhD) is a director and chairman of PIPMG. Pauline has worked in the pharmacuetical industry for over 30 years with roles of increasing seniority in both project and portfolio management. She has led R&D drug development projects as well as major organisational change projects. She left GlaxoSmithKline in 2012 to set up her own consultancy and has since worked with a variety of large, medium, small and start up companies developing organisation-specific solutions to meet client needs and ensuring the Project Management organisation acts as a catalyst for R&D strategy by providing staff with the skills to deliver projects.

PIPMG Role: Pauline has been part of the PIPMG executive Committee for 6 years after and Chairman for 3 years. She is involved in all areas of PIPMG activity but particularly focused on the future of the organisation and driving the strategy to meet the changing needs of the members.

Denise started her career as a clinical biochemist who found that she was a natural project manager and loves project management with a passion. Denise has worked in the healthcare industry for over 25 years in a variety of companies e.g. Chiron, Bayer, Hexal, and PPD in project management roles encompassing R&D through to commercial and lifecycle management. She is currently Head of Operations and Project Management at Cycle Pharmaceuticals.

PIPMG Role: Denise is on the PIPMG Executive committee, working with the rest of the committee to deliver the agreed objectives of PIPMG.

Tom is Director, Global Program Leader Oncology at Ipsen and has over 30 years’ experience in the Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic industries. Tom has held a variety of project leadership/management positions throughout his career and has been fortunate enough to work with teams that have developed and launched a number of pharmaceutical, medical device and in-vitro diagnostic products and has worked for a variety of companies ranging from small start-ups (Anagen) to big pharma (Roche) and private pharma (Norgine).

PIPMG Role: Tom has been part of the PIPMG executive committee since 2001 and has been involved in all areas of PIPMG activity including a three year term as Chairman.

A Senior Director of Project Management within IMED Operations at AstraZeneca.
Trained originally as chemist, I joined the company in 1988 and since 2010 have gained extensive experience in the leadership of cross-functional, global teams to deliver projects from lead optimisation to end Phase 2B, project and portfolio management and alliance relationship management.
I currently lead a team of Global Project Managers working across Oncology small molecule and Neuroscience small and large molecule Drug Development for AstraZeneca.

PIPMG Role: Mandy is on the PIPMG Executive committee, working with the rest of the committee to deliver the agreed objectives of PIPMG.

Sandra started her career as an immunologist, and during the past 17 years has had various roles in project management and leadership, leading multidisciplinary teams in oncology, cardiovascular and respiratory areas within large pharma companies and a CRO in the UK and Australia. During the past 6 years Sandra has focussed on leading oncology drug development programmes, as a Project Leader at Cancer Research UK and in her current role as Global Program Leader, Oncology at Ipsen.

PIPMG Role: Sandra has been a member of the PIPMG Executive committee since 2017, and is involved in all areas of PIPMG activity.

Originally trained as a microbiologist, Steven has worked in the bio-pharmaceutical industry, for over 20 years. He has managed multi-disciplinary projects, developing both small molecules and complex biologics, across several therapeutic areas, including cancer, allergic disorders and pain.Working with some of the UK’s foremost biotech companies, including Immodulon Therapeutics, Glide Technologies, Sosei R & D Ltd., and SR Pharma, he also spent some time at the Centre of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in Cuba, for the Canadian company YM Biosciences Inc. Previously, seven years at the Health Protection Agency (Public Health England), presented the first opportunity to develop programme and line management skills, coordinating high performing teams across a diverse range of National health, and defence programmes.

PIPMG Role: Part of the PIPMG executive committee for many years and has been involved in all areas of PIPMG activity , particularly those relating to early/oncology research.

Leadership and line management of a team of Project Leaders, responsible for management and delivery of the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development’s clinical trial portfolio (driving projects through preclinical and clinical phases). More than fifteen years’ experience in drug discovery and drug development project management in the charity and in the biotechnology sector, working at the Cancer research UK Centre for Drug Development and previously at Cellzome (a biotechnology company now part of GSK). PhD and post-doctoral experience in Cell Biology in international research institutions (University of Palermo, Italy, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, UK and European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Germany).

PIPMG Role: Raffaella is on the PIPMG Executive committee, working with the rest of the committee to deliver the agreed objectives of PIPMG.